African American Heritage Sites in Hampton

Explore Hampton's rich African American heritage at sites throughout the 400-year-old city. See Old Point Comfort,where the first Africans arrived in Virginia and Fort Monroe or "Freedom's Fortress," where runaway slaves were protected during the Civil War. Visit Emancipation Oak where President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was read to Hampton residents. The tree is one of six national historic landmarks on the Hampton University campus. The university museum is the oldest and largest African American museum in the nation and features artifacts and contemporary art from countries and cultures worldwide. All sites are featured in Family Tree and in the annually published Hampton Visitors Guide, both available for free through the Hampton Visitor Center.